§ 11. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest figures available for the cost of recruiting a soldier, sailor or airman.
§ Mr. PattieIn the financial year 1978–79, 43,366 men and women joined the Armed Forces. On this basis, the average cost per recruit was £588. The figures for the Navy, Army and Royal Air Force were £787, £488 and £680, respectively.
§ Mr. RobertsWill the hon. Gentleman agree that these figures are too high and they could be somewhat reduced by our getting rid of the prestige recruiting offices that we have in job centres, concentrating recruitment in town centres and concentrating it through the job centres in the same way as other engineering and technical jobs are recruited?
§ Mr. PattieI am aware of the hon. Gentleman's consistent interest in this matter, and his suggestion about job centres is being actively pursued at present. I ask him to bear in mind that the overall cost of recruiting also includes the cost of processing applications and the whole of the pre-assessment that goes on, so that the figures are not excessively high at present.
§ Mr. OnslowWill my hon. Friend point out to hon. Members on the Opposition Benches that the best way of achieving economies in this respect is by having a Government who care about having efficient Armed Forces, who care about the pay and morale of Service personnel, and who offer a worthwhile career in the defence of our country?
§ Mr. PattieI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his constructive remarks. He and the House may be sure that the recent pay award will do a great deal to improve Service recruiting.
§ Mr. DouglasWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind the pay and conditions of the personnel in Her Majesty's dock- 223 yards? Skilled men are being lost at Rosyth because the pay and conditions at the dockyard are not comparable with those in outside employment.
§ Mr. PattieThe important matter that the hon. Gentleman raises is primarily for the Civil Service Department. None the less, it is of concern to the Ministry of Defence and it will be watched accordingly.
§ Mr. MulleyWill the Minister give an assurance that the cuts proposed for the Civil Service will not apply to the industrial Civil Service so as to deprive the dockyards and other essential elements of the Ministry of Defence of the skilled manpower that they need to recruit?
§ Mr. PattieThe former Secretary of State should be aware that the matter to which he refers is not properly for me but is for the Civil Service Department.
§ 14. Mr. Wellbelovedasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to implement in full the recommendations contained in the report of the Review of Recruiting Organisation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieI am of course aware of this report and am now considering it in detail.
§ Mr. WellbelovedWill the hon. Gentleman speed up his consideration? Is he aware that the report contains many worthwhile proposals which will improve efficiency, increase recruitment and reduce the unacceptably high cost of recruitment?
§ Mr. PattieI am aware of the interesting proposals contained in the report. It comes ill from the hon. Gentleman to urge the Government to speed matters up when we consider what he left behind him.
§ Mr. Stephen RossDoes the hon. Gentleman accept that recruiting economies will be of no avail if the drain from the Services continues? Will he confirm that Service men in the Navy are still leaving in large numbers despite the recent substantial pay increase? Is he aware that ships that should be in commission are now being laid up?
§ Mr. PattieIt is much too early to say what will be the effect on Service per- 224 sonnel who were thinking of leaving the Services. However, the hon. Gentleman is right when he suggests that in tandem with the important matter of recruiting goes the equally important matter of retention.